Footgear Brand NEULO Raises JPY 350 Million in Seed Round to "Design Walking"

NEULO Inc. (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; CEO: Yuta Funase) has completed a JPY 350 million seed funding round to accelerate the development and expansion of its performance footgear brand, NEULO. Participants in this round include Genesia Ventures, Dawn Capital, and Asu Capital Partners, along with angel investors such as Susumu Usami and Masayuki Watanabe, and support from a former Olympic track and field athlete. With this funding, the company will enhance its development system ahead of the first product launch scheduled for summer 2026.

▍Founding Background As AI evolution replaces efficient information processing, the unique value left for humans lies in 'posing questions' and 'creativity.' Aristotle famously engaged in discussions and lectures with his disciples while walking, and Darwin is said to have deepened his theory of evolution while strolling along a path in his garden named the 'Sandwalk.' What they shared was the empirical knowledge that 'walking sharpens the mind.' Focusing on this relationship between 'walking and creativity,' we were established to aim for the 'reconnection of thought and physicality' in the modern era. Precisely because we delegate efficiency to AI, shouldn't humans unleash their thoughts through the physical act of walking? This belief led to the creation of the brand 'NEULO,' which aims to update human creativity from the ground up.

▍Product While shoes that pursue natural human movement, like 'barefoot shoes,' have increased in recent years, options that combine aesthetics suitable for the urban business scene with high functionality are limited. The first model, currently in development, pursues a unique design in collaboration with former developers from major sports manufacturers.

Features of NEULO's 'Performance Footgear': - ① Zero-drop: Eliminates the height difference between the heel and toe, guiding the body to its natural posture. - ② Wide toe-box: Ensures freedom for the toes, reawakening the sensation of gripping the ground. - ③ Minimal toe-spring: Achieves propulsion with a minimal slope, supporting walking that utilizes the toes. - ④ Midsole design: Provides comfortable cushioning while allowing the foot to feel feedback from the ground and maintaining flexibility. - ⑤ Heel-fit last design: Based on a last developed in Japan, it ensures a snug fit around the heel while providing freedom for the toes.

Completing daily conditioning with a single pair, for both on and off-duty. When your shoes change, your walk changes. When your walk changes, your thoughts change. We will provide new performance footgear unlike any before.

▍Future Development We plan to launch our first shoes (unisex) in the summer of 2026. Pre-registration (Waitlist) for the product starts today. Registrants will receive early access to launch information and priority purchasing rights. From its inception, NEULO has had its sights on global expansion. We will tackle the approximately JPY 70 trillion global footwear market head-on, merging Japanese craftsmanship with NEULO's 'philosophy of walking' in our performance gear.

▍Message from the CEO CEO Yuta Funase To improve the mental and physical condition of people and contribute to a richer life through shoes and walking. That is NEULO's reason for being. I believe that precisely because this is the age of AI, humans should engage with their bodies and find value in walking. Starting with the product of footwear, we will build a company that unleashes human creativity on a global scale. After working in consulting for the manufacturing and IT industries at McKinsey & Company, he joined Quipper, leading overseas business development in the Philippines and Indonesia. After serving as an executive officer and head of business development at a domestic startup, he founded NEULO in 2025. He was dedicated to rugby in his student days and now loves running and walking.

▍Investor Comments Takahiro Suzuki, Genesia Ventures The trend of AI replacing the domain of the 'brain' is now irreversible. That is why I believe human value in the coming era will deeply revert to 'physicality,' not just thought and information processing. I deeply resonated with NEULO's vision of creating a performance footgear brand that makes every step fun and healthy. I have known CEO Funase for over 10 years since we met in Indonesia. I know better than anyone that he is a rare entrepreneur who can achieve both business growth and organizational development simultaneously. We will walk forward with all our might as part of the challenge to spread a Japanese brand to the world with Funase and his amazing team.

Ichiiko Ishikura, Dawn Capital When I first heard Mr. Funase's story, I felt that while this is a shoe company, it's not just about shoes! I believe NEULO is a brand that seeks to create small behavioral changes through the shoes people wear every day. I am convinced that now, as AI expands into every field, the value of people feeling, moving, and enjoying their daily lives with their own bodies will only grow. I feel that NEULO, with its comfort, design, and emotional value that naturally makes you want to take a step, has the power to positively change people's daily lives.

Asu Capital Partners Hideo Natsume NEULO was born to change people's futures through shoes. The footgear dream team led by Mr. Funase is set to redefine the conventions of walking, from Japan to the world. I want to run full speed ahead with this amazing team on the 'Japan to Global' path.

Masayuki Watanabe I worked closely with Mr. Funase for many years. His ability to organize things and his eloquence are wonderful, but more than that, I learned much from his attitude of showing respect to everyone, not shying away from complex coordination, and always working in good spirits. I sincerely support his new challenge!

Susumu Usami I met Mr. Funase in the startup industry's running community, 'Sta-run.' I was captivated by his spirit of trying to reinvent the everyday act of 'walking.'